NCPCR Urges to Ban Election Candidates Who Don’t Educate Their Children

NCPCR has asked the State Governments of India to stop candidates from participating in local body elections and Panchayat elections if the candidates fail to send their children to schools.

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has asked the State Governments across the country to stop candidates from participating in local body elections and panchayat elections if the candidates fail to send their children to schools.

NCPCR has taken a bold move and recommended that no candidates shall be permitted to contest elections if they are unable to give a legit proof of their children (between the ages of 6-14 years) are attending schools on a regular basis.

Candidates whose children belong to the age group of 14+ will not necessarily be required to submit schooling proof of their children.

A member of RTE and Education, NCPCR, Priyank Kanoongo emphasized the importance of child education and said that the Commission has requested the state government to make some necessary changes in the electoral rules.

Many experts and officials from NCPCR believe that this development will be a new milestone in the education of children. They also believe that this will be a good move in spreading awareness as this will also encourage politicians to pay attention to the condition of regional schools.

The suggestion was a part of the recommendations that were compiled by NCPCR that were presented in front of CABE that is part of the HRD Ministry.

The decision has faced opposition from activists who state that this suggestion violates the principle of universal suffrage. However, Kanoongo argued that it is in favor of children and their education rights.